Ezra 10:1-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The People’s Response
10 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him out of Israel; the people also wept bitterly.(A) 2 Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra, saying, “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.(B) 3 So now let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law.(C) 4 Take action, for it is your duty, and we are with you; be strong, and do it.”(D) 5 Then Ezra stood up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do as had been said. So they swore.(E)
Foreign Wives and Their Children Rejected
6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night.[a] He did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.(F) 7 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem 8 and that, if any did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all their property should be forfeited and they themselves banned from the congregation of the exiles.
9 Then all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.(G) 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed and married foreign women and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11 Now make confession to the Lord the God of your ancestors and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”(H) 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for many of us have transgressed in this matter. 14 Let our officials represent the whole assembly, and let all in our towns who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every town, until the fierce wrath of our God on this account is averted from us.”(I) 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites supported them.
16 Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men,[b] heads of families, according to their families, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter.(J) 17 By the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 10.6 1 Esdras 9.2: Heb where he went
- 10.16 Syr: Heb And there were selected Ezra,
Ezra 10:1-17
International Standard Version
The People Gather with Ezra
10 Now while Ezra was praying and confessing in tears, having prostrated himself to the ground before the Temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelis—men, women, and children—gathered around him. Indeed, the people were crying bitterly.
2 Jehiel’s son Shecaniah, one of Elam’s descendants, responded to Ezra: “We have sinned against our God by marrying foreign wives from the people of the land, but even now there is hope in Israel, despite this. 3 So let’s make a promise to our God by which we divorce[a] all of these foreign[b] wives—as well as those born to them—in accordance with the counsel of our Lord and of those who tremble at our God’s command. Furthermore, let it be done according to the Law. 4 So get up—it’s your responsibility! We’re with you. Be strong, and get to work.”[c]
The People Agree to Dissolve Their Marriages
5 So Ezra got up and made the chief priests, the descendants of Levi, and all of Israel vow to carry out everything they promised. And so they agreed.[d] 6 Ezra arose in front of the Temple of God to visit the apartment of Eliashib’s son Jehohanan. While there, he neither ate nor drank because he was in mourning over the sins of those who had returned from exile. 7 Then they sent word throughout Judah and Jerusalem to everyone who had returned from the exile, to gather together in Jerusalem. 8 Whoever would not come within three days would forfeit his assets and be separated from the community of the returning exiles, just as the high officials and elders had advised.
9 Less than three days later, all of the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered together on the twentieth day[e] of the ninth month. Everyone sat in the plaza of the Temple of God, trembling because of everything that was happening, and also because it was raining heavily. 10 Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them, “You have sinned by marrying foreign wives, thereby increasing the transgressions of Israel. 11 Now confess this to the Lord God of your ancestors, and separate yourselves from the people who live in the land and from foreign wives.”
12 At this, the entire community responded with a loud cry, “We will do just as you’ve spoken! 13 However, many people are involved, and it’s raining heavily. Furthermore, this is not just a matter of a day or two of work, because many of us have sinned in this. 14 So let’s have our officials remain on behalf of the whole community. Then all who have married foreign wives are to come appear at specific times before[f] the elders and judges of each city until the fierce anger of our God has been turned away from us in this matter.”
15 Only Asahel’s son Jonathan and Tikvah’s son Jahzeiah opposed this, and they were supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the descendant of Levi.
The People Carry Out Their Promise
16 So those who had returned from exile did this. Ezra the priest and leaders of certain ancestral groups listed by name devoted themselves to examine the situation on the first day of the tenth month. 17 By the first day of the first month they concluded their investigation of all of the men who had married foreign wives.
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